Worcester police: Manslaughter suspect was about to go on lam at time of arrest

Thursday

Aug 1, 2013 at 10:12 AMAug 1, 2013 at 4:32 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — A city man had prepared to flee to Alabama when police plucked him from his car Wednesday night and arrested him on a manslaughter charge stemming from an alleged June assault on Main Street.

Rafael Ramos, 38, of 24 Hancock St., Apt. 3, was picked up by police Wednesday night on Canterbury Street. Prosecutors said it appeared he was ready to go on the run.

“He was found with a car loaded to the gills with all his belongings, and he was going to Alabama, according to what police told me,” Assistant District Attorney Roberta O’Brien said in Central District Court.

Mr. Ramos is accused of striking 48-year-old Elohm Punch sometime June 28. Mr. Punch’s head hit the concrete, leading to Mr. Punch’s death three days later, authorities allege.

Mr. Punch was found lying on the ground in front of Compare Foods at 664 Main St. by a state trooper driving by about 2:10 p.m. June 28. Mr. Punch was unconscious and appeared to be having a seizure.

He was rushed to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus, where he was pronounced dead on July 1, police said.

The state medical examiner’s office conducted an autopsy and found Mr. Punch’s skull was fractured, authorities said. The medical examiner also said he had injuries consistent with being punched or struck in the face before falling, Ms. O’Brien said in court.

Detectives interviewed witnesses in the case and Mr. Ramos.

“He denied ever touching this individual, said he absolutely did not punch him,” Ms. O’Brien said. “Everybody who was interviewed, including his friends, said he in fact did punch this decedent.”

Police said in a statement of facts filed in court that two witnesses saw Mr. Ramos punch the victim.

Ms. O’Brien told Judge Andrew M. D’Angelo that another witness who doesn’t know either the victim or the defendant told police the alleged attack by Mr. Ramos was unprovoked.

The witness said that “Without provocation this defendant punched the other individual causing him to fall and strike his head,” Ms. O’Brien said.

Police also have surveillance footage of the incident.

Defense lawyer Jacqueline M.B. Dutton said there are different accounts about what happened on June 28. She said some statements called the alleged incident self-defense while others said Mr. Ramos wasn’t involved.

Mr. Ramos was held on $35,000 cash bail. He will return to court Aug. 28. A not guilty plea was entered in the case.